Carpenter&#39;s floor-vise.



PATENTED APR. 2, 1907 R. MARZ & J. P. SCHNEIDER.

U j Z! j J-zVEn/ars/ S PETERS CO WASHINGYDN D C UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CARPENTERS FLOOR-VISE.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed June 11, 1906. Serial No. 321,155.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RUDOLPH MARZ and JOHN P. SCHNEIDER, citizens of the United States, and residing at Newport, Campbell county, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpenters Floor-Vises; and we do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this'specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in carpenters floor-vises, being an implement to hold pieces of work, especially larger oneslike doors, for instancein position for being worked on by plane, saw, or otherwise and to be used especially in such cases where regular shop implements, benches, &c., are not available. A condi tion for such use arises generally during the erection and finishing of the interior of buildings, where, for instance, many parts of the work, like doors, frames, footboards, rafters, &c., are fitted in position on the spot.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof, is found a full description of the particular features of our invention, together with its manner of use and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates in a perspective view manner of use of our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the same, showing it in use, parts being in section. Fig. 3 in a simi lar view illustrates the automatic action of the device. Fig. 4 is an under side view of the implement. Fig. 5 in a view-similar to Fig. 2 shows a modified construction of our implement which permits certain adjustments for angular work.

In the drawings, A and B are the clamping-jaws seated upon a base C, which is provided with legs 0 at opposite ends to keep it a limited distance above the floor. Each aw consists of the upright clamping-face 6 and foot portion 7, whereby it is seated upon base C. Between these parts 6 and 7 a web or brace 8 is arranged to stiffen each jaw. Both jaws are detachable from the base to reduce the bulk of the implement to fit it for the carpenters tool-box when carried from one place to another, and one jaw is adjustable to and from the other one. For the attachment of the adjustable jaw (jaw A in this case) we provide a bolt 9, seated in the foot of this jaw and also occupying a slot 11 in base C, to permit adjustment to and from the other jaw. That part of the bolt which occupies this slot is square to prevent the bolt from turning when its nut 12 is manipulated. To prevent the adjustable jaw from twisting around its bolt, we provide one or more lugs a a, which project from the under side of its foot and reach into a slot 11 in base C, whereby the jaw during its adjustment is also held to slide in a straight direction. The other jaw B has also lugs b b, which are undercut or hookshaped and fitted into slots 13 in base 0. When in position and the pressure is on from the opposite jaw, this jaw B slips to the right to the extent of the undercut portion of these lugs, which undercut portions are now occupied by parts of base C at one end. of slots 13 13, thereby holding this jaw in position. These slots are of a length which permits said lugs to move sufliciently toward the other end'of the slots so as to become disengaged from base C when said jaw is shifted toward the other jaw, provided, of course, no work is between the jaws. This permits detachment of said jaw. The other jaw is de tached by simply removing bolt 9. The opposite faces of jaws A and B may be covered with blocks 14 of wood or pieces of other suitable material to prevent scratching of the work.

The use of" the implement suggests itself. J aw B being hooked into slots 13 13 of base C by means of its lugs b I) and the other jaw A being attached by bolt 9, this latter jaw before'such bolt is tightened is moved toward the other jaw to an extent permitted by the thickness of the object to be held between the jaws. This object, as shown in Fig. 1, may be a door supported edgewise to permit planing off of its edges to fit the opening for which the door is intended or to attach hinges, &c. It is obvious that an absolutely tight and positive clamping pressure cannot be at tained in this mannerthat is, by merely moving jaw A toward and against the side of the door and tightening its bolt afterward. Positive clamping pressure is, however, obtained as follows: Base C is made of elastic material, preferably spring-steel, and forms with its legs 0 c substantially a bridge. The work (door) is lowered toward it while also in contact with jawB. Next jawAis moved toward the door from the opposite side and locked in position against the door by the tightening of bolt 9, all of which is done, however, before the weight of the door has been allowed to come down onto base 0. This being now done, howeverthat is, after jaw Ais tightened in placethe weight of the door is permitted to come down fully onto base C, when it tends to depress the same, which causes a corresponding tendency in jaws A and B to approach each other, as shown in Fig. 3. This tendency being resisted by the interposed door creates the required clamping pressure, which in view of the extensive leverage by which the weight of the door acts through base C against the short jaws is more than sufficient for the purpose. This automatic action and the effect of the clamping pressure are illustrated in Fig. 3, showing tendency of jaws A and B to approach each other when base C is depressed by the weight of the work resting upon it. The interposed work of course resists this approach, so that in reality it cannot take place to the extent shown; but it is this resisted tendency which produces the clamping action. The work may be removed or changed in position by merely lifting it off from base C, when the jaws by reason of the removed weight instantly and automatically release their grip. Another piece of work, provided it is of the same thickness, may now be placed by merely lowering it down between the jaws, after which it is instantly gripped by them as soon as it is released and permitted to rest on base C. No readjustment of jaw A becomes necessary. The expediency and convenience with which this implement may be used, especially where a number of pieces of equal thickness are to be worked upon, is evident. No wast-e of time results by releasing and retightening the jaws when work is changed. The work is simply raised up and removed, after which another piece is placed and lowered down onto the base and between the jaws. The weight of the work by acting against elastic base C causes this latter to perform automatically all what is required. The particular construction which produces this instant action, whereby the work is promptly gripped automatically and positively held with clamping pressure and also instantly released, consti tutes the leading feature of our invention.

In Fig. 5 we illustrate a modification in which the clamping-faces 6 are hingedly attached to their respective foot portions 7, and braces 8 are likewise hingedly attached to the rear of the clamping-faces. This per mits their angular adjustment and is very useful in some workas, for instance, in the cutting and matching of rafters where their ends have to be sawed ofi at certain compound angles to fit certain conditionsas, for instance, at hips and valleys of roofs, &c.

The parts are locked in their adjusted positions by means of clamping-screws 15 15, seated in posts 16 16, which rise from foot portions 7. Graduations 0n braces 8 may be provided to assist in this adjustment. This device in this construction may of course be used the same as the other construction by merely adjusting the jaws to an upright position, the same as shown in Fig. 2. Other elastic material having an equivalent action could of course be used in place of steel for our one-piece base C. We are aware that devices operating in a similar manner have been used before; but the required action has been obtained by different and much more intricate and complicated constructions, requiring also additional manipulation, all of which we dispense with by the use of the single piece of spring metal out of which base C is made. This refers particularly to devices having a base consisting of two hingedly-connected. parts actuated by an independent spring. As is obvious, we dispense with such a two-part hinged base and use the spring to simultaneously serve as a base and as the means to actuate the jaws. The resulting device is above all simple in construction, and therefore cheaper in manufacture, because it dispenses with the hinged base. It is more durable and lasts longer, because it does away with an objectionable wearing partviz., the hinge. It is lighter,because it dispenses with one part by combining the functions of actuating-spring and of base in one member. Considering the fact that carpenters usually carry their tool-kit from place to place, this reduction in weight is an appreciable item.

Having described our invention, we claim as new 1. In a carpenters floor-vise, the combination of a base provided on its under side with legs, one at each end whereby the same is supported with a clear space below it and between said legs, there being also spaced longitudinal slots in the base between its legs, coacting clamping-j aws removably seated on this base and provided with lugs on their under side which are fitted to the slots in the base whereby these jaws are positioned,- the lugs of one jaw being hookshaped to prevent displacement of this particular jaw, and a set-screw carried by the other jaw and occupying the slot below it whereby this jaw is adj ustably held, the base upon which these jaws are mounted consisting of an elongated piece of steel so that the weight of an object may act upon this base in a manner to actuate the jaws automatically for the purpose of gripping or releasing such object.

2. In a carpenters floor-vise, the combination of a onepiece base consisting of an integral blade of spring-steel which is provided on its upper side with two clamping-jaws mounted so as to be adjustable with refer- In testimony whereof we hereunto set our ence to each other, and having on its under signatures in presence of two witnesses. side two legs, one at each end whereby said I RUDOLPH MARZ steel blade is su orted with a clear space T I 5 below it which g rrnits the same to yield N SCHLEIDER' downwardly when aflected by the weight of Witnesses: work placed on its upper side and between C. SPENGEL, the jaws thereat. T. LE BEAU. 

